Legally Blonde: A Critical Media Analysis

The film Legally Blonde (Luketic, 2001) demonstrates the challenges and triumphs a Harvard Law student faces as she navigates an environment where she does not fit in. The film highlights many stereotypes that are associated with gender and class, specifically Elle’s identity as a White, upper-class woman, and the privileges and challenges that come with holding such identities. In this analysis, we will argue that while the film showcases a positive representation of women in higher education, it fails to portray an accurate representation of all women who encounter additional systemic barriers due to their intersectional identities.

Positive Representations of Women in Higher Education

Increasing positive representations of all identity groups can influence young people to strive for more and build their beliefs in their abilities. While this has been a true reality for most young white men, Goldberg (2012) found that children of other genders and racial identities usually have lower confidence levels due to the media’s overall depiction of their identities displayed through stereotypical versions of themselves and their cultures. For young women, they are especially vulnerable to media influence and are often presented as unintelligent, incapable, and materialistic in popular culture (Goldberg, 2012). Elle Woods, of Legally Blonde, is an example of a character breaking the traditional stereotypes of feminine women. While she fully embraces a love of pink, having her nails done, shopping, and her small dog, she is not vapid or uncaring like the people around her assume her to be. The film demonstrates her repeatedly breaking stereotypes placed upon her while maintaining her femininity. Characters like Elle Woods remind young girls that their presentation of self should not dictate their success. She challenges the notion of the “girly-girl” with her intelligence, advocacy, and resilience. Legally Blonde is a piece of media capable of propelling more young women into higher education, especially male-dominated studies such as Law because it depicts the possibilities of success existing for women in field where they are underrepresented.

This GIF depicts Elle Woods speaking at her Harvard Law graduation ceremony. The film concludes by discussing Elle’s accomplishments and accolades yet still leaves space for her signature girly squeal. The representation is authentic of Elle’s personality and reminds young women that they can be their true selves in academia.

Elle also overcomes additional obstacles such as not having a support system during her time in law school. A prominent point that influenced Elle to prove she was capable of tearing down the barriers surrounding her was when her ex-boyfriend told her, “You’re not smart enough sweetie,” and to what she responded with, “Did we not get into the same law school? We took the same LSAT.” Not only does Elle excel in her classes, but she also played an important role in the murder case trial, providing evidence that helped her win the case. Elle accomplished her goal of succeeding at Harvard Law School, becoming the keynote speaker at her graduation, and working at one of Boston’s most prestigious law firms.

Reynolds (2014) makes note of how powerful representation in popular culture is in higher education and how it is translated in the public eye. Further, these representations show students how to learn and absorb messages about the college experience and the meaning of higher education that reflect and reinforce shared or conflicting understandings (Reynolds, 2014). Accordingly, there is no doubt that Legally Blonde has made a dent in pop culture and has impacted many women’s lives looking to enter higher education. Actress Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle Woods, once told Wall Street Journal Magazine in 2017, “At least once a week I have a woman come up to me and say, ‘I went to law school because of Legally Blonde.’” Moss (2019) credits this impact by noting, “It’s incredible.…You can be unapologetically feminine but also smart and driven.” This is a perfect example of how the film has made a direct impact on feminist history through the positive representation of women in education in the media.

This tweet illustrates prominent scenes in Legally Blonde where Elle Woods breaks barriers and proves she is capable of succeeding in law school and how important it is to be unapologetically a strong woman in an environment where women do not get praise or are made out to be successful.

Inaccurate Representations of All Women in Higher Education

Elle Woods’s experiences are inextricably informed by her social identities, both marginalized and majoritized. As previously mentioned, the representation of her as a strong woman in predominantly-male spaces is positive for young women and girls with similar aspirations to Elle. Where the film falls short, however, is in failing to acknowledge the immense privilege that Elle embodies as a white, upper-class woman. Sensoy and DiAngelo write, “Mainstream movies, as well as many reality makeover shows, normalize the idea that it is important for women to transcend their race and class status and realign with traditional notions of femininity” (2017, p. 112). These privileges are most visible when she first attempts to gain admission to Harvard Law school. She is admitted by an all white, all male admissions board and heavily relies on her only extracurricular, as stated in the following tweet.

This tweet illustrates the disconnect between the appreciation for Elle Woods’s success as a woman and the lack of an intersectional framework in understanding her privileges as white and upper class.

First, Elle discusses the possibility of attending Harvard Law School with her affluent parents who attempt to dissuade her from throwing her good looks away on academia (Luketic, 2001). Then, in conversation with her academic advisor Elle states, “I don’t need back-ups. I’m going to Harvard.” (Luketic, 2001). At first watch, this may seem like a determined young woman setting goals, but we have to critique this as misleading and harmful to women of color and low-income women. Elle does not have to worry about maintaining employment during the months she spends preparing for her LSAT, nor does she worry about the systemic racism that exists within college admissions.

Once she arrives at Harvard Law, the lack of diversity is evident as most of her classmates and faculty members are white and male. As mentioned, Elle’s identity as a white woman allows her to bypass the challenges Black and indigenous women of color encounter in higher education spaces as it relates to institutional racism and other forms of oppression (Dubrofsky, 2013). Additionally, Elle’s socioeconomic status infused a level of privilege. In the film, she lives comfortably and is able to use shopping as a coping mechanism for the tough time she is having at the school. Her ability to do so is a direct contrast to the reality of students who do not come from affluent backgrounds and rely on financial aid, scholarships, loans, and other means to pay for their education. As Reynolds (2014) notes, those who benefit from hegemonic power and popular culture are allowed to act, dress, and play the “part” in order to be popular and more successful. For Elle, in addition to her wit, she was able to leverage her social identities to overcome obstacles, gain internships, and an eventual job at a prestigious law firm.

This video showcases the efforts of Black students at Harvard University to create more inclusive and welcoming spaces as they navigate the predominantly White campus. Students highlight how difficult it is to find community on campus and be affirmed in efforts to illuminate how exclusive higher education environments can be for Black and Indigenous Students of Color.

Conclusion

Media representations of success in institutions of higher education are critical for marginalized students. Elle Woods’s identity as a woman in a predominantly male field is not only a barrier to be overcome, but is also what makes her so passionate and dedicated to her female client. Elle’s gender does not exist in a vacuum however, and audiences will also perceive her race and social class as benefiting factors to her experiences. Legally Blonde under emphasizes the intersectionality of identity, and future multicultural educators must acknowledge the salience of both marginalized and majoritized identities in higher education.

References

Dubrofsky, R.E. (2013). Jewishness, Whiteness, and Blackness on Glee: Singing to the Tune of Postracism. Communication, Culture & Critique, 6, 82–102.

Ed. [@Oh_ItsEd]. Don’t let today distract you from the fact the Elle Woods was a privileged white woman who came from good wealth and only got into Harvard Law because of Greek connections. You’re welcome :) [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/Oh_ItsEd/status/1048300050156343296?s=20

Goldberg, S. (2012, June 1). TV can boost self-esteem of white boys, study says. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2012/06/01/showbiz/tv/tv-kids-self-esteem/index.html

Hecate. [@HECVTE]. (2021, April 18). Legally blonde revolutionized feminism [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/hecvte/status/1383698381311119365?s=21

Moss, H (2019). How “Legally Blonde” influenced a generation of women lawyers. https://www.abajournal.com/voice/article/how-legally-blonde-influenced-a-generat ion-of-women-lawyers

Reynolds, P. J. (2014a). Representing “U”: Popular Culture, Media, and Higher Education (pp.1–11)

Sensoy, O., & DiAngelo, R. (2017). Is everyone really equal? : An introduction to key concepts in social justice education. ProQuest Ebook Central. https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.proxy2.cl.msu.edu

YouTube. (2018). Taking Up Space | Harvard University | Netflix. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76MLqlrxf5